Course Overview

Course summary

Knowledge of corporate finance law is essential for lawyers, bankers and financiers who are keen to develop professional skills in corporate fundraising, deal structures and transactional management. This course offers an enhanced qualification for professionals working or planning to work in a technically demanding and dynamic global industry. It will appeal to both recent graduates and practitioners considering various fields of work, including law, investment banking, corporate finance, private equity, securities, investments, financial regulation, government agencies and international financial authorities.

You will focus on learning how the financial markets work, from the primary markets involving the issuance of equity, debt and derivatives, to the secondary markets involving trading and investments, as well as very large financial transactions in the international capital markets. Importantly, you will also learn how to take account of legal and regulatory risks facing financiers and bankers, and structure financial instruments to suit commercial priorities and social welfare policies.

This course aims to give you a comprehensive understanding of the practical processes and innovative products of the international corporate finance market, including equity and debt capital, derivatives, structured finance, risk management and investment portfolio products. It also develops the soft skills you will need in this area of practice, including negotiations and network building, with meetings with senior lawyers and directors of major companies.

Course structure

The following modules are indicative of what you will study on this course.

The option modules are recommended if you are looking to specialise in the financial industry. If you opt for the dissertation you must select four option modules. If you opt for the project you must choose five option modules.

Please note that option modules are subject to student demand and staffing availability, therefore not all modules will be offered in the same academic year.

Core modules

The dissertation module allows you to extend your research into a topic of your choice within the broad field of corporate finance law. You will need to agree the topic with the module leader, and it must not replicate materials covered in other areas of your coursework.

This module covers the key investment banking principles and practices. You will develop the skills you need to examine, assess and prepare professional level business plans, private placement memoranda and prospectuses. You will also study confidentiality agreements, fundraising from the investment banking perspective, initial public offerings, and stock exchange trends and market requirements.

You will develop a broad and deep understanding of the legal issues concerning corporate financial transactions, including the interaction of corporate law and finance, and the legal mechanisms for fundraising in the financial markets. There is a special emphasis on the regulations, customary rules and practices of the venture capital market. The areas you will cover include basic accounting, basic drafting, corporate structure, exit routes, finance contracts, regulatory issues, sources and types of investment, tax, and transfer of shares.

Option modules

This module will provide you with a deep understanding of how banks are regulated, especially in an international context. You will also have the opportunity to study how the banker-customer relationship is understood in the law and the function and workings of banking instruments. The module presents the regulatory environment of banks within the UK, Europe and internationally. It introduces students to the rationale and operational aspects of regulation before moving on to discussing issues of practical impact such as negotiable instruments, bank lending and payment systems.

This module focuses on large-scale, capital-intensive projects throughout the world, including power generation, energy, infrastructure and urban regeneration. Project finance lawyers/consultants predict and resolve a large number of potential risks involving political, commercial, credit quality, insurance, default and bankruptcy issues. They draw up documents which capture a ‘mini legal system’ reflecting the entire legal process for a wide range of project participants. You will learn to address risk allocation and risk mitigation, and to analyse and construct legal documentation concerning financing sources, environmental issues, bilateral and multilateral credit support, loans, collateral and permits.

This module will give you a full understanding of the practical and theoretical aspects of Islamic finance and banking, and the essential principles underlying Islamic finance. You will review and assess the modes and legal structures of major financial transactions by Islamic finance institutions, and their corporate governance structures. You will also undertake a legal and financial analysis of securitisation structures in Islamic finance.

You will examine the risks from and remedies for white-collar crime, and evaluate national legislation and international conventions dealing with white-collar crime. You will also be able to identify types of criminal behaviour, determine the liability of those participating in that behaviour, analyse and apply the defences available for defendants, and identify the importance and use of computers and the internet in white-collar crime.

Course Leader

Senior Lecturer

Ioannis Glinavos is a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Westminster. He studied at Essex (LLB) and Kent (LLM, PhD) before taking a Teaching Fellowship at SOAS (Contract Law). He then held lectureships at Kingston (Contract Law) and Reading (Company and Commercial Law). Ioannis has published two books with Routledge (2010, 2013) and a series of articles on Law and Development, Law and Economics and Investment Arbitration.

Ioannis is a frequent contributor to social media, blogs and news sites on law, economics and politics.

Entry Requirements

A minimum of a lower second class honours degree (2:2) in Law or a related discipline. Applicants without the standard qualifications, but with significant professional or managerial experience in a relevant field, will be considered.

If your first language is not English you should have an IELTS 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each element.

A minimum of a lower second class honours degree (2:2) in Law or a related discipline. Applicants without the standard qualifications, but with significant professional or managerial experience in a relevant field, will be considered.

If your first language is not English you should have an IELTS 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each element.

Applicants are required to submit one academic reference.

More information

Careers

This course will be of benefit if you are seeking to work in any of the range of disciplines involved in corporate finance law, including accountancy, corporate banking, corporate finance, corporate law, investment banking, private equity and venture capital, as well as in related fields.

Westminster law students benefit from the following:

Dedicated 1-2-1 appointments with careers advisors.

Feedback and advice on CVs, applications and interview preparation.

Employer panel events and talks.

Law vacancy jobs bulletin.

Annual Law Fair Consortium.

Mock Assessment Centres and Interviews.

Our Careers and Employability Service is here to support you to achieve your full potential.

With a growing network of over 3,000 employers around the world and a team of experienced careers consultants, we provide you with a variety of opportunities to work and develop new skills. As a University of Westminster student, you’ll have access to our services throughout your studies and after you graduate.

The Legal Skills Academy is a joint initiative between Westminster Law School and the Careers and Employability Service.

As a law student you will have access to specialist workshops and presentations to help you to develop your employability skills. Our events are usually led by legal professionals, giving you the opportunity to network with lawyers and other professionals in the field.